Prima Parte de' Fiori, e Disegni di varie sorti di Ricami Moderni, page 13 (recto) 1591

This is page 13 from "Prima Parte de' Fiori, e Disegni di varie sorti di Ricami Moderni," a book of lace patterns created by Giovanni Battista Ciotti, sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century. During this time, pattern books like this one played a crucial role in the fashion and textile industries. These designs were not merely decorative; they were signifiers of status and taste. Lace-making was a highly skilled and valued craft, often practiced by women. These books provided essential templates, and also influenced the circulation of design ideas across Europe. This page presents a series of geometric and floral patterns intended for needle lace, a type of lace created using a needle and thread to stitch intricate designs onto a base fabric. Consider the labor and artistry embedded in each stitch, connecting women across different social strata through the shared language of craft. Lace was a symbol of luxury and refinement, but it also represented the time and skill of the women who produced it. This page offers a glimpse into the convergence of art, labor, and identity in early modern Europe.